Editorial Board

Ms. Silberman

Jennifer Silberman

Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Hilton Worldwide

Jennifer Silberman is the Chief of Staff to the President and CEO of Hilton Worldwide as well as Vice President of Corporate Responsibility. In her role as Chief of Staff, Ms. Silberman acts as a strategic advisor to the CEO. As Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, Ms. Silberman leads a global team responsible for the strategy, integration and implementation of Hilton’s corporate responsibility commitments and initiatives around the world across the company’s 12 brands. In this role she sets high level goals and priorities, drives scaled investments and manages all global NGO relationships and initiatives.
Ms. Silberman joined Hilton Worldwide in 2010 from APCO Worldwide, where for eight years as Vice President in the corporate responsibility practice she counseled Fortune 500 companies and global foundations on strategy and program design, measurement, stakeholder engagement, reporting and results-oriented philanthropy. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the United States and throughout Latin America and Africa in the areas of economic development, sustainability, human rights, women’s empowerment and youth opportunity.
Ms. Silberman holds a Master of Arts in International Economics and Latin American Studies from The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Latin American Studies from Mount Holyoke College. Half Argentine, she is a native Spanish and Portuguese speaker and fluent in French. She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on The Future of Jobs and currently serves on the boards of the international NGO, Pact and gBCAT, a business coalition working to end human trafficking.

Mobile Technology: Relentless Innovation

Technology has become a crucial component in attracting and retaining hotel guests, and the need to enhance a guest’s technology experience is driving a relentless pace of innovation. To meet and exceed guest expectations, 54% of hotels will spend more on technology in 2018, and mobile solutions in particular will top the list of capital investments. Many hotels are integrating mobile booking, mobile keys, mobile payments and mobile check-in into their operations. Other hotels are emphasizing the in-room experience, boosting bandwidth and upgrading flat screen TVs to more easily interface with guest mobile devices. And though not yet mainstream, there are many exciting technology developments on the near horizon. The Internet of Things (loT) is taking form in some places, and can be found in guest room control systems, voice activation systems, and in wearable sensors that can be used for access and payment options. Virtual reality headsets are available at some hotels so guests can enjoy virtual trips to exotic locations or if off-property, preview conference facilities and guest rooms. How long will it be before a hotel employs a fleet of robots for room service, or utilizes a hologram as a concierge, or installs gesture-controlled walls that feature interactive digital displays? Some hotels are already using augmented reality for translation services, or interactive wall maps, or even virtual décor. This pace of innovation is challenging property owners and brands to stay on top of the latest technology trends while still addressing current projects. The January Hotel Business Review will explore what some hotels are doing to maximize their opportunities in the mobile technology space.